Hand tool



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A. COOK HAND TOOL April 19, 1955 Filed Dec. 6, 1951 United States Patent HAND TOOL Augustus Cook, Morristown, N. J.

Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,184

2 Claims. (Cl. 2406.46)

The present invention relates to improvements in hand tools and more particularly to an improved hand tool provided with work illuminating means.

It is often necessary to manipulate a screw, bolt or nut which is not only diflicult to reach but is hidden in either partial or complete darkness. It is necessary in such a situation to illuminate the piece or part to be manipulated as well as the working end of the tool. However, it is not desirable for the mechanic to operate, simultaneously, a separate light source and tool since the one would interfere with the other. Furthermore, the tool would almost invariably cast a shadow upon the screw or nut as well as the working end of the tool, thus reducing the usefulness of the light source. Many devices have been proposed and employed in an effort to overcome the aforesaid difficulties and these devices generally include a light source in the handle of the tool directed toward the working end thereof. However, they possess numerous disadvantages, principal among which is that the distribution of the light is such that it is usually almost absent where it is most required, that is in the immediate yicinity of the working end of the tool. Another disadvantage is the very low light efliciency reached.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved tool of the type provided with self-contained means for illuminating the work area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-illuminating tool wherein the area immediately surrounding the working end of the tool is adequately illuminated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-illuminating tool wherein the tool portion per se is simply and readily replaceable in an illuminating handle portion permitting the use of the handle portion selectively with various screw drivers, socket wrenches, Allen wrenches and others.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-illuminating tool handle and an associated tool of the desired type which may be employed with or without the illuminating tool handle and wherein the tool handle alone may be satisfactorily employed as a flashlight.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-illuminating tool which is simple, rugged and highly efiicient.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the component parts of an auxiliary handle embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an improved tool in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved auxiliary handle engaging the tool shown in operative position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view partially broken away of the auxiliary handle, the light source being unengaged;

4 Figi 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig.

6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of An important feature of the present invention resides in the optical system for directing a uniform spot of light in the environment of the working end of the tool and broadly includes an elongated body member formed of a transparent material and having a longitudinal bore formed at one end thereof, said bore terminating in a base having a surface forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said bore of not more than 30, a tool element having a shank and a working end, said shank registering with said bore and a source of light positioned at the end of said-body member opposite said bore end. The present invention also contemplates an auxiliary tool handle for providing illumination of the tool element and includes a body member having a cavity formed therein and adapted to house an electric battery and having a toolhandle-receiving longitudinal socket formed therein, said socket being provided with resilient means adapted to engage the surface of a tool handle received therein to removably retain said tool, and an electric light bulb mounted in said body member and in light communication with said socket. The combination of said auxiliary illuminating handle and a tool having a handle which is adapted to register with the tool handle receiving socket of the auxiliary handle is also within the scope of the present invention.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein the numeral 10 generally designates a tool which is here illustrated as the common type screw driver although any suitable tool may be employed such as a socket wrench, Allen wrench, Philips screw driver, etc. The tool 10 includes a handle portion 11 having an upper section 12 of hexagonal transverse cross-section and a lower section 13 of circular transverse cross-section. Formed in the lower part of the handle portion 11 is an axial longitudinal bore 14 terminating at its inner end in a conical base 16. It is important to note that the apex angle of the conical base is between 40 and for improved light directing properties and is preferably 60. The surface of the conical base should be highly polished or otherwise formed or treated to provide maximum light reflecting properties. Furthermore, the handle 11 is formed of a transparent clear material preferably possessing a light piping character, such as the acrylic resins, for example, methyl methacrylate resin. A tool element having a shank portion 17 and a working portion 18 is engaged by handle portion 11, the upper portion of shank 17 being fluted and terminating in a conical tip, the sides of which tip are preferably highly polished so as to present surfaces of high reflectivity. The fluted portion of shank 17 registers with bore 14 the surface of the conical tip preferably abutting the surface of conical base 16 of bore 14.

The auxiliary illuminating handle is designated by the numeral 20 and includes a tubular body member 21 formed of any suitable material such as an organic plastie and having longitudinal flutes formed in its outer upper surface defining a gripping portion. The lower interior of body member 21 is of hexagonal transverse crosssection and the remainder is of circular transverse crosssection, being joined to the lower portion by an outwardly tapering shoulder. The exterior of the body memher 21 may assume any desired shape. Nested in body member 21 is a metal liner 23 of substantially uniform wall thickness and having an exterior configuration corresponding to the interior configuration of body member 21, the liner 23 extending from the lower end of body member 21 to a point shortly below the upper end thereof. A flat hexagonal member 24, of preferably transparent material has a centrally located circular aperture 26 formed therein, and is secured in the upper portion of the hexagonal section of the liner 23 by force fit or otherwise to divide liner 23 and hence handle 20 into a lower tool receiving socket 27 of hexagonal transverse crosssection and an upper battery housing cavity 28. Formed in a wall of liner 23 adjacent its lower edge is a transverse slit 29 which engages the lower flattened end of an arcuate leaf spring 30, the convex face of which normally projects into socket 27 and the upper end of which extends to the upper end of socket 27. Spring 30 removably retains a tool 10 the handle of which engages socket 27 and deforms spring 30.

The upper open end of cavity 28 is sealed by a removable lid or closure member 33 formed of any suitable material and having an upper portion 34 of substantially the same diameter as body member 21 and a depending threaded cylindrical portion 36 of reduced cross-section which engages a corresponding thread formed in the upper wall of the cavity 28. The top face of lid 33 is dished out to form a well 37. An axial tapped bore 38 is formed in lid 33 and engages a threaded rod 39, the upper end of which terminates in a flattened finger portion 40 which may nest in well 37. A resilient arcuate metallic contact element 41 is secured to the lower end of tapped rod 39 by means of a metal screw or rivet 42 which passes through an opening in said contact element 41. The convex face of contact element 41 abuts the bottom face of rod 39, the outer ends thereof depending slightly. Rod 38, finger member 40, contact element 41 and rivet 42 comprise an electric switch.

A flashlight bulb 44 of the type having a pointed envelope and a lens forming part of said envelope is supported in the bottom of cavity 28 abutting plate 24 and partially projecting through aperture'26 formed in plate 24. A helical compression spring 46, having convolutions of increasing diameter engages the threaded base 47 of bulb 44 and abuts metal liner 23 thus effecting an electrical contact between threaded base 47 and liner 23. A pair of flashlight dry cells 48, of conventional type, are housed in cavity 28 and are arranged in end to end series relationship. The positive central terminal 49 of the lower cell confronts the center terminal of the bulb 44 and the negative end of the upper cell abuts the head of the rivet 42.

Considering now the operation of the present improved, illuminated tool, any desired tool provided with a handle 11, having the characteristics and configuration de scribed, is slipped into the socket 27 as illustrated in Figs. 3-4 of the drawing. Spring 30 engages side face of handle 11 and removably retains tool 10 in auxiliary handle 20. In normal inoperative condition, the switch in lid 33 is in its upper position as seen in Fig. 4, cells 48 be- 0 ing raised by the spring 46 whereby the positive terminal of the lower cell 43 is out of contact with the center terminal of bulb 44 and element 41 is out of contact with liner 23. In order to energize bulb 44, rod 38 is rotated clockwise by way of finger portion 40 until it assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. By this manipulation element 41 is urged downwardly until it abuts the upper edge of liner 23. Cells 48 are likewise urged downwardly against spring 4-6 until the positive terminal of the lower cell 48 abuts the center terminal of the bulb 44 thereby completing the circuit between cells 48 and bulb 44 to energize bulb 44. The light emitted by energized bulb 44 falls upon the end face of and enters the handle 11. There, by virtue of the configuration and light transmitting properties of the handle 11 particularly aided by the axial conical surface 16, the light is directed at increased intensity to the area immediately surrounding the working end 18 of the tool element. This permits and facilitates the application of the tool to spots which are otherwise poorly illuminated. To insure maximum employment of the light emitted from the filament of bulb 44, certain steps have been taken. Thus, since light should enter upon section 12 of handle 11 substantially perpendicularly in order to minimize reflection at the top of said handle, it is preferable to use a bulb having a lens incorporated in its envelope to so concentrate the light fiux from the filament. But since all such light will not enter handle 11 perpendicularly, the sides of the handle are preferably highly polished to provide maximum internal reflection, thus confining the light rays within handle 11 until they reach the lower end thereof at which point the major portion thereof are discharged in a direction to fall upon the work surface.

In order to provide higher efiiciency and minimize the shadow cast by shaft 17 two steps have been taken. The first and more important step was to provide the conical base 16 in handle 11, thus enabling the deflection of rays both directly through the lower end of handle 11 and secondarily therethrough after deflection against the side walls of said handle. The second step was to provide a relatively acute conical top to shaft 17 and then highly polish the same to provide highly reflective surface areas which will reflect and direct in a useful direction many of the light rays which pass through conical base 16. By

reason of these changes a substantial lessening of the area and intensity of the shadow of said shaft is effected, thus more highly and completely illuminating the work surface.

Although the subject invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous additional changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without transcending the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

\Vhat is claimed as the invention is:

1. An auxiliary tool handle of the character described for use with an insertable tool handle, comprising an elongated hollow body member, one end thereof being closed and the other end thereof being open, said body member being adapted to house an electric battery adjacent said closed end and fixedly housing a hollow insert of predetermined cross section within said open end thereof, said insert being open at both ends and providing a longitudinally extending tool handle receiving socket, means for supporting an electric light bulb in said body in circuit with and adapted to be actuated by said battery, said bulb being in light communication with said socket, said insert having a slot formed therein, a leaf spring mounted so as to extend through said slot, one end of said spring extending forwardly of said slot between the walls of said body and said insert and fixedly secured therebetween, the other end of said spring extending rearwardly and transversely into said socket, being compressible against the side wall thereof when a tool handle is inserted in said socket, whereby said inserted handle is removably secured therein.

2. A combined auxiliary tool handle and insertable tool having a tool handle member comprising an elongated hollow body member, one end thereof being closed and the other end thereof being open, said body member being adapted to house an electric battery adjacent said closed end and fixedly housing a hollow insert of predetermined cross section within said open end thereof, said insert being open at both ends and providing a longitudinally extending tool handle receiving socket, means for supporting an electric light bulb in said body in circuit with and adapted to be actuated by said battery, said bulb being in light communication with said socket, said insert having a slot formed therein, a leaf spring mounted so as to extend through said slot, one end of said spring extending forwardly of said slot between the walls of said body and said insert and fixedly secured therebetween, the other end of said spring extending rearwardly and transversely into said socket, being compressible against the side wall thereof when a tool handle is inserted in said socket, and a tool removably inserted in said handle comprising an elongated handle member formed of a transparent material and having a longitudinal bore therein in communication with the outer end of said member, said bore terminating inwardly in a base having a conical surface, the apex angle of which is substantially between 40 and 60, the surface of said conical base being highly polished, and a tool element including a shank mounted in and engaging said longitudinal bore, the inner end of said shank being conical so as to register with said base of said bore, said inner end of said shank being highly polished so as to be light reflective.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,141,072 Velepec Dec. 20, 1938 2,242,536 Montgomery May 20, 1941 2,311,439 lwanowicz Feb. 16, 1943 2,408,601 Blauvelt Oct. 1, 1946 2,525,414 Kleinschmidt Oct. 10, 1950 2,596,594 Petre May 13, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 340,966 Great Britain of 1929 400,307 Italy Nov. 28, 1942 

